The records of the War Services Bureau consist of six cubic feet of textual records as well as 42 photographs, reflecting
the Bureau's work with Civilian War Assistance, Enemy Alien Assistance, and Japanese Evacuation. The records, dated from
1940 to 1948, are organized into thirty-three series. Several series are further divided into a number of subseries. The
records document the experience of civilians in California during the Second World War.

Background

The Bureau of War Services was created within the Division of Public Assistance in 1941 to administer three programs developed
at the request of the Federal Security Agency (Dept. of Social Welfare, Biennial Report, 1940-42, p. 7), Civilian War Assistance, Enemy Alien Assistance, and Japanese Evacuation. The first two programs were funded
by a Presidential allocation of $5 million made on February 6, 1942 to be expended...for providing temporary aid necessitated
by enemy action to civilians...who are disabled, dependents of civilians who are killed, disabled, interned or reported as
missing, or
who are otherwise in need of assistance or service (A Summary of the Civilian War Assistance Program, February 6, 1942-June 30, 1948). Civilian War Assistance and related services was administered by the U. S. Bureau of Public Assistance through operating
agreements with state and local public welfare agencies acting as agents for the Bureau.

Restrictions

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.

Availability

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.